AFTER months of relentless work fighting the Coronavirus, the South West Acute Hospital's (SWAH) Emergency Department (ED) Manager, Sister Julie Collins, says “staff are exhausted but coping well” as Western Trust chiefs predict an extreme surge of patients this week.

Sister Collins said: “Staff are exhausted, and work has been relentless over the past ten months. This is the height of the pandemic and we see the next four weeks as being critical.

"If this [surge] continues, we will remain under extreme pressure.”

Across the country, frontline staff are feeling the strain of Covid-19 as they are becoming increasingly tired and anxious facing ‘normal’ Winter pressures alongside a pandemic.

Sister Collins added: “Staff are coping well here, but they are tired and anxious about what is ahead of them. We have been working in this pandemic for 10 months, so it has been a prolonged time of almost a year.

"They are tired; there is a whole mixture of emotions.”

Sister Collins was asked about the difference between more routine Winter pressures and the pandemic's Winter pressures.

She listed three new considerations that made working in the ED more challenging this Winter: “Wearing greater amounts of PPE, changes regarding preparing areas for patients [through more hygiene measures], and social distancing in the department.”

She told this newspaper: “The department has been overwhelmed in the past, but those issues weren’t as prevalent then.”

Cases of Covid-19 have fallen in Fermanagh and Omagh this week, but this impact has not been seen in the SWAH.

Sister Collins said: “Covid-19 cases are gradually falling, and that’s great news, but there is always that lag time because patients don't tend to get very unwell from Covid until day 7-10.

"That’s when they are presented to hospitals, so we won’t see the effect of those numbers coming down for a couple of weeks.”

Speaking on the urgent appeal for off-duty staff that was issued on Sunday night to help cope with pressures in the hospital as patients from the Southern Trust were diverted to the SWAH, Sister Collins said: “There was a great response from staff.

"There was a great response from all across the site, from all areas of staff – speaking particularly for the ED team on Sunday night – and there was a great response from our own team.

"It just showed we can pull together to get through this pandemic, and work with each other and support each other.”

When asked on the mental health impact, and fear of burnout during this time of pandemic, Sister Collins explained: “Burnout can happen in normal times for nursing and medical staff, but we support each other.

"We have measures in place such as safety briefs at the start of a shift, and good lines of communication so everyone can keep abreast of the situation. The key is communication.”

The Western Trust has also established a psychological support helpline for individual and team support sessions.

When asked how the public can help the staff in our health service, Sister Collins said: “By washing your hands, wearing a face covering, keeping your social distance, and only going out when absolutely necessary.

"If you do have to come to the ED, think of what service is most appropriate for your needs – is it the ED, or is it a pharmacy or a GP that you need?

"If you need to come to the ED, we will see you. You should come to us alone, unless you are a child or vulnerable adult.”

Throughout speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Sister Collins praised the staff in the health service, and thanked all the public for their generous support on behalf of staff in the ED and across the SWAH.